TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR
Last weekend’s sunshine, mild weather, and warm temperatures had Merrill residents outside in large numbers on Saturday and Sunday. With much of the area’s snow melted away, it felt like Spring, even though Spring won’t officially arrive until this Saturday, Mar. 20.
Parents brought children to area parks to play, climb, slide, balance, swing, run, skip, jump, and get the winter wiggles out in just a light jacket for the first time in months. Mother’s pushed strollers. Couples and families went for a walk, and brought along dogs if they had them. Kids were skateboarding and riding bicycles. Basketballs were bouncing, as teenagers practiced shooting hoops and families played two on two at Washington School. Geese flew north and took a leisurely rest on the Prairie River. Couples grabbed an impromptu picnic lunch at a picnic table at one of the park shelters. Residents sat outside in lawn chairs just enjoying the sunshine and the pleasant breeze. A mother and son played catch with a ball and glove at Normal Park. Some new and old homeowners got out rakes to start cleaning up their yards. Motorcycles and ATV’s took to the roadways. Entire families (three generations even) made their first trip to get ice cream (yes, Dairy Queen is now open). It’s not quite official, but the weekend was a great teaser of the Spring that is soon to come.
A dusting of late winter snow covered everything in a thin layer of white on Monday evening, a subtle reminder that winter in Wisconsin doesn’t usually call it quits quite this early in the year.
